A guest at the rededication ceremony at Silliman College examines the panels featuring carved stone salamanders, symbols of the residential college.

Rededication ceremonyheld for Silliman College

More than 150 students, alumni, faculty ,members and guests gathered on Nov.
27 at a formal rededication ceremony for Silliman College, the latest of Yale’s
residential colleges to undergo a top-to-bottom renovation.

President Richard C. Levin and Silliman College Master Judith Krauss hosted
the event, which marked the conclusion of three years of construction. Honored
guests included John L. Furth ’52 and Joseph J. Magliocco ’79,
the lead donors for the renovation.

“What I like most about this renovation is that it has preserved the essential
Silliman — our history, important architectural landmarks and traditions — while
creating an elegant and functional new 21st-century relevance,” Krauss
said during her welcoming remarks at ceremony.

The afternoon event took place in Silliman’s dining hall, a showpiece
of the project with its gleaming hardwood floors, marble fireplace, wood-paneled
walls and Palladian windows. Mari-E Takahashi ’08 played violin and Samuel
Bagg ’09 performed on one of the college’s four newly refurbished
Steinway grand pianos, made possible through a gift from Silliman alumnus Preston
G. Athey ’71. The students offered a rendition of Pablo Sarasate’s “Zapateado.”

In his remarks at the ceremony, Levin recalled the history of the residential
college system and its founding benefactor, Edward S. Harkness (B.A. 1897),
who advocated in the 1920s to create a stronger sense of community at Yale.

“I think Mr. Harkness would have been thrilled by this renovation,” said
Levin. “He would have been overjoyed that his vision of the residential
college has triumphed.”

Levin directed particular thanks to ,Magliocco and Furth for their leadership
support in bringing new life to Silliman College. He presented each with an
original watercolor painting of Silliman’s courtyard.

“Yale has been an ongoing source of pride and inspiration in my life,” Furth
told rededication guests. “I am thrilled to play a small part in the reinstallation
of this great college.” Furth was joined at the event by members of his
family, including his children and brother William H. Furth ’54. Two of
his former Yale roommates and lifelong friends, Edward Kline ’52 and Dr.
Saran Jonas ’52, also attended the ceremony.

Magliocco, whose son Matthew ’08 is a current Silliman resident, directed
a portion of his remarks to the students, saying, “You are truly fortunate
to be at Yale during one of its golden periods. I hope you will follow in the
footsteps of past alumni and keep Yale strong.” Both Furth and Magliocco
joined Levin and Krauss for the ribbon cutting, which was punctuated by musical
selections including “Bright College Years” performed by the undergraduate
a cappella singing group Baker’s Dozen.

At the close of the formal ceremony, guests ,attended a reception in the Silliman
common room and took part in student-led tours of the renovated college, including
its art gallery, seminar rooms, redesigned common spaces, the enlarged servery
and Silliflicks, a state-of-the-art movie theater.

Silliman, the largest of the 12 residential colleges, opened in 1940. It is
the eighth of Yale’s residential college complexes to be renovated. Already
complete are Berkeley, Branford, Saybrook, Timothy Dwight, Pierson, Davenport
and Trumbull colleges. Students from Jonathan Edwards are currently residing
in the New Residence Hall (“Swing Dorm”) while their college is
under construction. Calhoun is the next to be renovated, with Morse and Ezra
Stiles colleges to follow.

Silliman College student Alexandra Cavoulacos ’08 said at the rededication
ceremony that she is more than pleased with her newly renovated living space.

“Our college is bright and shiny, elegantly renovated, and it still feels
like home. The renovations exceeded our wildest dreams.”